Honolulu County, HI Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum PV capacity
- 5 kW (AC) for single/two-family
- Conduit size
- 1.5 inch minimum
- Applies to
- New single-family, duplex, multifamily
- Enforced by
- Dept. of Planning and Permitting
Summary
Honolulu requires new homes to be built solar-ready, with an electrical panel sized to accommodate a future rooftop photovoltaic system.
New single-family detached dwellings, two-family detached dwellings, and duplexes shall install for each residence an electrical panel with reserved space to accommodate not less than a five Kilowatt (AC) photovoltaic system. New multifamily dwellings shall install an electrical panel that includes space reserved to accommodate a photovoltaic system: (1) sized to serve common area electrical loads, or (2) sized to the roof space available. The reserved space shall be clearly labeled as solar PV ready. All feeders and electrical distribution equipment, including switchgear, switchboards, and panel boards that will be fed simultaneously by the electrical grid and other power sources shall be sized to support the installation of future solar energy generation systems per the interconnection requirements of the Electrical Code. New residential buildings shall also install conduit not less than one and one-half inches to provide a pathway from the electrical panel to the inverter location and from the inverter location to the underside of the roof sufficient to allow future installation of solar equipment. If conduits are to be installed between separate buildings or other structures, construction documents shall provide sufficient details to show that compliance with the Electrical Code’s restrictions on the number of power supplies to each building or other structure has been examined. R408.2 Electric vehicle readiness. In addition to what is required by the
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-10: Supplement 10, 12-2025 Ordinance No. 25-40 through Ordinance No. 25-56).
Full Breakdown
Under the amended Residential Code, new single-family, two-family, and duplex homes must have an electrical panel with reserved space for at least a 5 kW (AC) PV system, plus 1.5-inch conduit routed from the panel to the roof. New multifamily buildings must reserve panel space sized to common-area loads or available roof space, clearly labeled "solar PV ready." This applies to building permit applications islandwide, from Kailua to Waianae.
Violations & Fines
Building permits are reviewed for compliance with R408.1 before issuance; noncompliant plans are rejected by the Department of Planning and Permitting until corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this require installing solar panels now?
Does it cover apartment buildings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Honolulu County
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